Caster



Nov. 2 1926'.

A. G. HAGUE CASTER Filed Nov. 21, 1924 ji mr.

Fatented Nov. 2, 1926.

U -ETED STATES ALFRED G. 'HAGUIL OF DES MOINES; IOWA.

CASTER.

mplication filed November 21, 1924. Seral No. 751,254.

The object of .my invention is to provide a Castel' O' simple, durableand ineXpensive construction, which may be easily and quiclly applied-to a tubular support such as a Washing machine legt, and When soapplied will permit the caster to rotate freely in its mounting,

More particularly it is the objectof my invention to provide an improvedcaster support adapted to be easily and quiclly applied to a tubul'arleg and formed of stamped sheet metal, so a-rranged that the Castel'support may be easily and quicl zly applied without the :use ozE toolsand .held in position by frictionally engagmg the mner surace of theAtube after it has been applied.

My invention consists in the construct on, arrangement and -combinationof the Various parts br the device, whereby the objects Contemplated areattained, as hereinafter more 'fully set forth, pointed' out` in myClaims, and il lustrated in the accompanying drawins. in Which:

Figure 1 is an end elevation of .my improved caster.

Figure 2 is a side eleva'tion of sameshowing the manner in which it isapplied to a -tubula'r le'g, the l-eg being shownxi n :sec-

" i tion.

Fi ure 3 isa detail sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of F gure 2.

'Fig'ure 4'is a 'detailsectlonal view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2,the caster and the supporting leg being removed.

The numeral indicates the lower end of a tubular leg such as used inWashing machines and similar devices. improved device comprises a'disk11 which is slightly larg'er than the diameter of the tube 10 anddesigned to support the lower end of said tube the diskbein; providedwith a crown portion 12 which eXtends upwardly into the tube 10. Themembers 11 and 12 :form the. base of the caster support.

The center of the member 12 is provided With an opening; 13 forreceiving the caster stem 14 Which is substantially of the ordinaryconstruction. the stem 14 being mounted in a yoke 15 in Which the casterWheel 16 is pivotally mounted by means of a piu 17.

The member 12 is also 'provided with openinqs 18 designed to re eive thelower ends of an inverted U-shaped frame member 19 which eXtendsupwardly into the tubular member 10. The upper end of the member 19 isdesigned to rest on the upper end of the stem 14 as clearly illustratedin Figv[JL-re -1. The disk 11 and the member 19 provide means ,forsupporting the leg 10. The upper end of the member 14 forms a pivot 'forthe caster. i

The upper end of V the member 19 is formed :angular so that the upperend of the member 14 rests in a channel 20whch prevents, to a certaineXtent, lateral movement of the stenn .14 in a common plane with thedownwardly eXtending portions of the .member .19. The stem 14 is limitedagainst lateral movement by means of a plate 21 Which is mountedhorizontally between the upper ends of the `members 19, and the plats 21is provided With an opening` 22 to receive the upper 'end of the saidstem 14.

The upper end of the stem 14 is formed with two bulged portions 23 Whichare formed in thestem, `as it is placed -in position by 'the dropforging process, and serves to prevent the stem from being pulledoutwardly .after it has once been placed in position. Each 'side edge ofthe plats 21' is provided With a .notch 24 for receiving the members'19. o

The .plate 21 is .formed Square. and of such size` as tojust fit .theinner surface of 'the tubular member 10` and each 'end .of the plate 21is :provided with 'a downwardly extending .ponti on 2 5. Said 'members25' and the plats 21 are formed of spring metal, and so formed that thelower edges of the members 25 Will frictionally enga e the side walls ofthe tube 10, which provides means for frictionally holding the CasterWithin the tube 10. The lower ends o't the lower ends normally resting;in an outwardlv and downwardly eXtending positiom it will be seen that Ihave provided means whereby the Castel may be inserted in the lower endof the leg' 10` and will be frictionally held in position by the members25 resting against the inner surface of the leg 10, and

lll)

also the inclined portion 29 frictionally engaging 'the lOWer ends ofthe tube 10 in a wedge-likc manner, so that When the Caster has oncebeen placed in position, it `Wil1 not rodily drep out.

t Will further be seen that the parts. are so arranged and constructedthat the stem 14 Will rotate freely therein. The entire Weight of thesupporting leg is carried on the upper end of said stem le, Whilelateral niovel' ent is prevented by engagement therewith by the sides ofthe openings 13 and 22. This provides means whereby the cster sliem Willrotate freely, even if a considerable rust and sediment collect Withinthe lower end of the leg 10, due to the fact that 'the area O Contactbetween the stem l l and its supports is reduced to EL minimum.

I Claim as my invention:

l. A caster designed to be detachably mounted in one end of EL tubularsupport comprising a yoke, a cnster Wheel rotatively nounted in saidyoke, a stem extending upwardiy from said yoke, a disk pvotally mountednear the loWer end of said stem and perpendiculnr thereto, said diskbeing provided with an upwardly eXtending bulged portion having anannular inclined edge designed to fit the inner surface of said tubulursupport, an inverted U-shaped frame member secured to the bulged portionof said disk having its closed end designed to pivotally rest upon 'theupper end of Said Steln, a reetangular plate mounted transversely insaid U-shaped member near the upper ends of its parallel portions, saidplate having an opening through Which the S'tem eXtends, the distancebetween its diametrically opposite corners being substar tially equal tothe inside diameter of Said tubular Support, a notch in each side edgeof said plate for receiving the downwardly extending portions of saidU-shztped nicmber, each end of said plate being provided With adownwardly extending spring member for engaging the inner suri'ace ofsaid tubular support.

2. A Caster designed to be detacha ly mounted in One end of a tubularsupport comprising a yoke, a caster Wheel rotatively nounted in saidyoke, a stem eXtending u Wardly from said yoke, a disk pivotally mountednear the lOWer end of said Stern and perpendicular thereto, said diskbeing provided With an upvvardly eXtending bul 'ed portion having anannultr inclined edge designed to fit the inner surface O' said tubularsupport, en inverted U-shaped frame member secured to the bulged portionof said disk having its closed end designed to pivotally rest upon theupper end of said Stern, :L rectangular plate mounted transversely insaid U-shuped member near the upper ends of its parallel portions, saidplate having en opening through Which the Stem extends, the distancebetween its diametrcally Opposite corners being substantially equal tothe inside diameter of said tubular support, a notch in each side edgeof said plnte for receiving the downwnrdly extending portions'of saidU-shaped member, edch end of said plate being provided With a doWnWardlyeXtending spring member for engaging the inner surface of said tubularsupport, each of said downwardly eXtending spring members being providedWith an inwardly extending member placed in overlapping positions, bothof said invvardly extending members being provided With an Opening 'Orreceiving Said upwardly eXtendin stem.

Des Mibines, IOWL, November 11, 1924.

ALFRED G. HAGUE.

